PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iliya Topuria (ranked 593 p4p, 1080 weight class) and Drax Bautista (ranked 88 p4p, 147 weight class). Topuria comes into the arena with Black Eyed Bruiser blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Topuria
vs
Bautista

190 cm
26
207
8 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
209
8 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Brooklyn Apothecary

Brooklyn Apothecary

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Iliya Topuria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Drax Bautista!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Eliza Hachem and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Topuria looks to throw a body kick
and Bautista connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bautista ducks under a wild hook from Topuria.
Topuria lands with a nice combination. Bautista backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Drax Bautista has been cut.
Topuria throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bautista sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bautista unleashes a big counter combination but Topuria bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Topuria has a takedown stuffed.
Bautista throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bautista dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Topuria. That did some damage!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Topuria with a lazy takedown attempt
and Topuria takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Topuria fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bautista on the side of the head.
Topuria misses with a left hand
and Bautista counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Iliya Topuria has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bautista lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bautista scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Topuria has managed to clinch.
Topuria digs a right hand into Bautista's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bautista's gas tank.
Topuria blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Topuria.
Bautista misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bautista misses with a punch to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Topuria.
Topuria working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Topuria lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Topuria.
Topuria misses with the head strike.
Topuria misses with a body punch.
Topuria lands with a left to the head.
Bautista misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A hook to the body from Bautista.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bautista gets through Topuria's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bautista misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topuria misses with a short punch on the inside.
Topuria has a couple of punches blocked by Bautista.
Bautista makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bautista misses with the head strike.
Topuria is working for takedown but Bautista is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Iliya Topuria. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Topuria lands an uppercut.
Topuria throws a head punch that misses.
Topuria tries to throw a body punch but Bautista avoids it by throwing Topuria back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bautista.
Bautista throws a head punch that misses.
Bautista misses with the head strike.
Bautista throws an elbow that misses.
Bautista blocking some punches.
Topuria goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bautista blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Topuria turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Topuria manages to end up in side control.
Bautista is letting Topuria control him for a moment.
Topuria wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bautista keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bautista is looking to reverse the position.

Topuria goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bautista has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Topuria but great work by Bautista.
Topuria has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Topuria is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bautista tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bautista trying to control the action but Topuria is working from the bottom.
Topuria wants to control but Bautista postures up.
Topuria looking for a sweep but Bautista has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Bautista looking to control but Topuria is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bautista might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Topuria haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Iliya Topuria will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Topuria throws a hook but Bautista blocks it.
It seemed like Bautista was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Drax Bautista seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Topuria gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bautista.
Bautista takes one on the button.
Bautista ducks under a wild hook from Topuria.
Bautista thows a left - swing and a miss!
Good exchange - Topuria coming out on top.
Bautista takes a swing at Topuria's ribcage but misses.
Topuria went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A low kick from Bautista misses
and Topuria counters with a big right hand! Oh Bautista is in trouble here! Topuria follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Iliya Topuria!
Iliya Topuria seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.